Apparatus for treating fabric



NOV. 5, 940. p A SPERRY 2,220,627

APPARATUS FOR TREATI-NG FABRIC Filed July 14, 1938 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2v A TYDRNE YS.

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ill'UII Nov. 5, 1940. I P. A; SPERRY 2,220,627 APPARATUS Fon HEATING FABBLC l Filed 4July 14, .19:58 :5 shams-.sheet s l wfg.

A T TURNEYS.

Patented Nov. 5, v1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for treating the surface of a fabric to obtain a suede-like effect upon the fabric; and has for one of its objects to provide a nish obtaining this desir able effect while maintaining the strength of the fabric greater than is usual in the finishing of fabrics to obtain this suede effect.

Another object of the invention is to improve the so-called feel or touch of the fabric.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suede-like finish which may be applied either before or after dyeing, or both before and after dyeing, and yet streaks which sometimes occur will be avoided.

Another obpect of the invention is to improve presence of any hair-like fibers which occur and stand outwardly from the fabric as occur in some suede finishes which are at present in use.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a clearing action for the abrasive which is utilized in providing the suede effect on the surface by a beating of the goods.

Another more specific object of the invention is the arrangement for varying the tension on the goods that the desired beating action may be had.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described7 and par- 30 ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevatio-n of the apparatus for performing this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the surfact treating machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail showing the adjustable mounting for a set of tension rolls;

Fig. 4 is a section on line d-Al of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, illustrating the mounting of the tension roll and also illustrating the mounting of one of the rotary members;

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are fragmental sectional views illustrating different methods of mounting an abrasive segment upon the rotary member;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the modified form of abrasive toc-1 and'means of co-ntrolling the work as it contacts therewith;

Fig. 1G is a fragmental sectional view of another modified arrangement of beating and abrasive action on the work;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a different modification and showing a belt backing up and positioning the work as it is fed to the 55V machine;

Fig. 12 illustrates diagrammatically the passage of the work through two machines intandem;

Fig. lSlillustrates diagrammatically the treating of the opposite surfaces of the work in a single piece through a modified form of machine. y

The provision of suede-like finish upon fabrics, such as maybe used for rain coats or the like, is provided by abrading the surface of the fabric which in most all cases occurs by means of a wheel continuously engaging the surface of the fabric and grinding away some of the surface material of the fabric. Grinding with such a wheel is found to cause a clogging of the wheel by fine particles getting in the poreslthereof and also such grinding action reduces the strength of the fabric to a very great degree, for example, sometimes as great as of the strength of the fabric is lost by this action. Further, it frequently occurs that by such a harsh action upon the fabric the fibers are disposed on the surface in such a 'manner that they appear like small hairs over the surface which is detrimental to the appearance and feel of the fabric; and in order to eliminate these undesirable results, I have arranged to cause a beating action at the time of abrading by providing short Sections of an abrasive upon a rotary memberv which at the time of beating also abrades the fabric, there being a sufficient give in the fabric as it passes through the machine and is subiected to this action to cause the fabric to vibrate back and forth at a rather rapid rate and circulate air through the fabric, thus clearing of the fabric of all fine particles and also clearing the abrasive tool of all particles which might tend to collect in the pores thereof. Thus, the tool is kept clean and the undesirable wearing and reduction of the strength of the fabric is avoided, the fabric loosing but little of its strength, for instance, such as 10% which is a great improvement over the prior practice; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawings, I5 designate-s the framework for supporting the operating parts of my apparatus and the fabric operated upon. The middle portion of the frame i6 provides a horizontal support il for the abrading machine designated generally i8 and through which the work is fed. At one side of the middle portion of the frame there is the framework i9 for supDiOrting the supply package of fabric 28 in. suitable bearings 2| for the trunnions 22 thereof. On the other side of the middle frame 6 is the frame 23 which supports the delivered package 24 of the fabric and certain driving mechanism for this package 24 and for the machine I8. An upright 25 from the middle portion of the frame I6 supports an overhead horizontal portion of the framework 25 which in turn supports rolls for guiding the travel of the fabric and operating mechanism for the apparatus.

The work 21 is led from the supply package 20 upwardly over a guide roll 28, thence through a tension unit 29 and a second guide roll 30, all supported on the horizontal frame portion 26. The work then passes through the guiders 3| where it is transversely spread to its full width and then passes over the guide rolls 32 and enters and passes through the machine I8, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, where the fabric receives its treatment causing its suedelike nish. As the fabric 21 emerges from the treating apparatus I 8 it travels over guide roll 33, sand roll 34, guide roll 35 to the delivery package r'oll 24 where it is reeled by being driven through the surface of the drive roll 36. A motor 31 is mounted upon the lower portion 38 of the middle frame I6 which through belt 39 drives a pulley 40 which in turn rotates a sand roll 34 and also the belt pulley 4i which through belt 42 drives the pulley 43 to drive the feed roll 36. This belt at the same time drives the pulley 44 which through belt 45, pulley 46, pulley 41 and belt 48 drives pulley 49 and the main drive shaft 50 of the machine designated generally I8.

The beating and abrading machine I8 consists of a pair` of side upright members 5| which mount the main drive shaft 50 extending through the center of the apparatus and also mount shafts 52, 53, 54, and 56 upon which rotary members 51 are mounted. The shafts 52 to 55 with a member 51 mounted upon each one are rotated from the main drive shaft 59 by-two systems of flexible drive elements, such as chains or belts. A pulley 58 on one end of the machine and secured to shaft 50 drives a belt 59 which passes over pulleys 60 and 6| on the ends of shafts 53 and 55 to drive these shafts from the pulley 58. At the opposite end of the machine a pulley 62 is mounted on shaft 58 and through belt 63 which is trained over pulleys 64, 85 and 66 drives the shafts 52, 54 and 56 in a direction opposite in rotation to the rotation of the shafts 53 and 55.

Each of the rotary members 51 is shown as a cylindrical drum, although any support for short segments of an abrading surface 61 may be provided. I have illustrated these segments as located at four equally distant portions of the member 51 with these segments 61 short in arcuate extent and with a space between them of approximately three times their arcuate eX- tent, although these dimensions are not important but are merely illustrative of one way of accomplishing the result. Each of these segments 61 is provided with an abrading surface which may be formed in various ways. In Fig. 6 there is wooden core 68 to which a strip of abrasive treated material 59 is secured by brads 10. 'In Fig. 7 the core 1I is of metal and the abrasive strip of material 12 is stretched over the core 1| and bound to the core and member 51 by rails 13 bolted to the member 51 as lat 14. In Fig. 8 the abrasive section 61 consists of a solid segment 15 of abrasive grains suitably bonded together, the section being secured to the member 51 by bolt 16. These examples illustrate that various manners of providing such an abrasive segment may be had. v

Guide rolls 11 and 18 are suitably mounted upon shafts as 19 extending from one frame 5| to the other and located to assist in positioning the work 21 with reference to the rotary member 51. These rolls 11 and 18 have their axes fixed in the machine and occur at either sides of the point of contact of the rolls 51, along adjustable guide rolls and 8| which are rotatably mounted on shafts 83 supported by the yokes 82. The yokes are guided on pins 84 for a sliding movement toward and from each roll 51. Each yoke 82 at each end of the rolls 80 and 8| may be manipulated toward and from the roll 51 by a threaded shaft 85 passing through the threaded opening 86 in the carriage, this shaft being held against axial movement with reference to the frame 5| by a collar 81 (see Fig. 5) located in slot 88 and having a set screw 89 engaging the reduced portion 99of the shaft 85 so that as rotation of the shaft 85 occurs by the hand wheel 9| the carriage and the rolls 80 and 8| will be moved outwardly or inwardly toward the member 51 to cause the work 21 to be moved nearer to or permit the work to be normally positioned further from the axis of the member 51 and consequently control the amount of flexing of the work at this lcation which will occur by reason of the sections G1 striking the work at intervals `and abrading the surface thereof. The guide rolls for the Work of each at the rotary members 51 may be differently adjusted if desired.

In some cases instead of utilizing the yokes and rolls 80 and 8| as carried thereby a belt 92 may be utilized for backing up the fabric work 21, as shown in Fig. 11. Here this belt will be driven over guides 93, 94, 95, 96 and 91 and will back up and hold the work against the guide rolls 11 and 18 at each side of the beater and abrasive members 51, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. ll. The rolls 94 and 96 may be adjustable so as to vary the tension on the belt, and it is found that a better action will occur by having this belt sufficiently loose so that a substantial beating action may occur on the fabric as the members 51 rotate.

In Fig. 9 a solid abrasive wheel |00 is illustrated with slits i0| to divide it into sections |02. this being mounted adjacent a strip of fabric 21, guided by rolls |03 and I04 and held at varying distances forl varying tensions by an eccentric |05 on shaft |06. In other instances a rotary member |01, see l0, may be provided with a resilient section |08 of rubber held in position by brackets |09 and bolts H0, while the abrasive element includes a wheel I2 for holding the abrasive element in position by a clamp ||3 and will cause the desired beating and abrasive action on the surface by reason of the parts being reversed with reference to the arrangement shown in Figs. l and 2.

In Fig. 12 a greater abrasive and beating action is provided by reason of two units, such as shown at I8 in Figs. l and 2, being in tandem. In Fig. 13 the beating and abrasive action is illustrated on both sides of the fabric in a single pass through the machine by reason of members such as 51 being located on opposite sides in staggered relation in order that the beating and abrasive action on both sides may occur in a single pass through the machine.

The treatment of the fabric by the apparatus here shown will usually occur before the fabric is dyed and again after the fabric is dyed, it

being found that this is a desirable manner of using this apparatus. However, the treatment may be applied before the material is dyed or may be first dyed and the material treated by this apparatus after dyeing, and satisfactory results are found to occur.

Also, as a variation from the description above, the member 51 which is mounted on shaft 56 may have different sorts of sections of beating or abrading the cloth than the members 51 on the four preceding shafts 52 to 55, inclusive; and I have found that by providing a felt section upon this last member 51 on shaft 56 an improved result in the treatment of many different kinds of fabric may occur.

By the treatment of fabric, as above described, I may avoid many streaky finishes which otherwise occur and a very good imitation suede is provided.

The size of the grain which may be used for the segments B1 for beating and abrading the cloth may be varied according to the hard finish of the cloth or the amount of twist in each of the yarns. I find that the harder finished goods .will finish better with the finer size such for instance as 180, 240, 320 and even 400, although I do not wish to be limited to any specific size in this connection.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege lof resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device issusceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for treating fabrics to produce a suede-like surface finish thereon comp-rising a plurality of spaced means each fpr individually tensioning the fabric, each comprising two spaced supports with no support between in a straight line, differently spaced members engaging the fabric to cooperate with the supports to tension the fabric in a plurality of stretches, a rotary tool for each of said tensioned stretches of fabric having spaced abrading members for intermittently contacting the fabric between said supports to cause the same to be disposed in an arcuate path, means to rotate the tools at a speed sucient to rapidly vibrate the tensioned stretches of fabric between said supports and means for advancing the fabric through said apparatus.

2. In an apparatus for treating fabrics to produce a suede-like surface finish thereon comprising a plurality of spaced means each for individually tensioning the fabric between two supports with no support between in a straight line, differently spaced members engaging the fabric to cooperate with the supports to tension the fabric in a plurality of stretches, a rotary tool for each of said means having spaced abrading members for intermittently contacting the fabric on the same surface between said supports to cause the same to be disposed in an arcuate path, means to rotate successive adjacent tools operative on the same surface in opposite directions at a speed suficient to rapidly vibrate the fabric between said supports and means for advancing the fabric through said apparatus.

3. In an apparatus for treating fabrics to produce a suede-like surface nish thereon comprising a plurality of spaced means each for individually tensioning the fabric between two supports with no support between in a straight line, differently spaced members engaging the fabric to cooperate with the supports to tension the fabric in a plurality of stretches, a rotary tool for each of said means having spaced abrading members for intermittently contacting the fabric between said supports and on opposite sides of the fabric to cause the same to be disposed in an arcuate path, means to rotate the tools at a speed sufficient to rapidly vibrate the fabric between said supports and means for advancing the fabric through said apparatus.

4. In an apparatus for treating fabrics to produce a suede-like surface `finish thereon comprising a plurality of sets of spaced rolls each set for individually engaging the fabric with no support between them in a straight line, more closely spaced rolls between said supports for en' gaging and tensioning the fabric, a rotary tool for each of said sets of rolls having spaced abrading members for intermittently contacting the fabric between said supports to cause the same to be disposed in an arcuate path, means to rotate the tools at a speed sufficient to rapidly vibrate the fabric between said supports and means for Vadvancing the fabric through said apparatus.

PAUL A. SPERRY. 

